Brendan Galvin

The premise for this narrative poem is intriguing. In 1976, three government agents are on a mission to discover what J. Norton Parlin did during WWII in South America while he was a manager for a United Fruit banana plantation in the jungles of South America. Now in his late 70s, he had returned wealthy to his hometown on Cape Cod, married a local girl, sired two sons and built a hotel. The narrative shifts among five voices: the leader of the government team; the two young undercover operatives, one who is working for the hotel and one who is interviewing Parlin for a "children's book;" Parlin in his interviews; and Parlin's ancient Indian cuandero.

The poem is written in a easily flowing blank verse that I found a bit flat. While the book is an easy read, nothing about it really grabbed me. After I had read about half of it yesterday, I had to go back to reread the whole thing today as I really didn't remember what I had read -- not a good sign of a gripping read.… (altro)

Над пустыней Гоби разразилась песчаная буря, в которую угораздило попасть грузопассажирский самолет. Он упал, в живых осталось не больше дюжины человек. Воды хватит на несколько недель, еда тоже позволит протянуть немного, если сидеть и ждать подмоги. Сотовый телефон молчит, рация убита. Если и существует способ выжить, то он в строительстве самолета из того, что осталось от прежнего...
В ролях: Дэннис Куэйд, Тайриз Гибсон, Джованни Рибизи, Миранда Отто, Хью Лаури, Тони Каррэн, Джэйкоб Варгаз… (altro)